Some hints at who may be tapped as a future Treasury Secretary, as McCain mentions Meg Whitman (of eBay) and Obama and McCain both mention Warren Buffett.
McCain keeps repeating himself on his bipartisan record, even when it's not remotely related to the question. And frankly he doesn't seem to be really answering any questions. He just keeps repeating his attack ads.
Neither would really truthfully answer a question about the economy possibly getting worse. Of course, no politician wants to actually say "it's going to get worse". Even if it's true.
Brokaw is doing a pretty good job keeping these guys in line...he actually gave Obama a "no dice" on a non-allowed response, and made it stick.
I may well be biased, but Obama does actually seem to be concentrating on the questions, while McCain is concentrating on attacking Obama. In fact Obama only seems to mention McCain in response to McCain's attacks.
McCain seems to be very vague. Lots of soundbytes, but he's avoiding the questions and just tries to polish his "maverick" image.
McCain repeatedly mentions bipartisanship with Lieberman...too bad Lieberman isn't really a Democrat. Come on, he spoke at the Republican convention.
Energy...McCain mentions Obama's support for nuclear power, then shrugs off the safety aspect (and it DOES have to be safe). Then he says Obama is against it...but he's not (McCain seemed confused).
Both pretty much agree that domestic drilling is needed in the interim. And that oil is not the permanent fix. Good.
Healthcare...some sparks will fly here. I do NOT like McCain's tax on health care premiums from employers. Obama's plan was very specific and clear. Again, McCain is just doing attacks. The "fine" is a misleading...Obama's plan makes employers share the expense of a government insurance program for the uninsured, it's not a "fine". Obama has a plan...McCain again has attacks on the plan but no plan of his own, really...at least he didn't give much in the way of detail.
Foreign affairs...a question on judgment. McCain is actually impressing me here, he's saying the right things about use of force, and admitting that the US has made mistakes. Of course he finished with a jab on Obama and a soundbyte. Obama is coming out by tying McCain to the Iraq mistake, which I wouldn't recommend...just answer the question (which is economic restraints on defense issues). Now he's actually getting to the core issue, how much we are spending in Iraq and the fact that you can't maintain military superiority if your economy is tanking.
Uh oh...Brokaw wants an outline of the "Obama Doctrine" and the "McCain Doctrine". Obama favors a worldwide approach, using our allies because he rightly points out that we simply can't be everywhere all the time. DEAR GOD MCCAIN STARTS HIS ANSWER WITH AN ANTI-OBAMA ATTACK. Is that the "McCain Doctrine"..."Obama is bad, so I'm not him"? I'm really wondering if McCain is running as anything other than the "anti-Obama".
Pakistani sovereignty...wow, what a loaded question. No good "right answer"...me, I say go after bin Laden regardless of if he's in Pakistan or not, and if the Pakistani government won't do it's job and uphold it's agreement we need to do it. We coddled Musharraf, tiptoed around the issue, and let bin Laden hide out for years in Pakistan. Of course, McCain leads off with an attack...I sense a theme here. He chides Obama on daring to speak of military action in Pakistan, and McCain's the same one who said "bomb bomb Iran".
Obama sets strategy for Afghanistan by correctly (in my opinion) speaking of drawing down in Iraq and redeploying some of those forces to Afghanistan. McCain largely agrees, it seems. So much for his assertion that Obama has the wrong idea on Afghanistan, he just pretty much repeated Obama's strategy.
Russia...can we please stop using the "looked into his (Putin's) eyes" line? PLEASE? I have to disagree with Obama here...financial support to the former Soviet states is not a good plan for us right now, we are broke! McCain has a good take here on this...he is holding a thin line with regards to the Russian "Evil Empire", not wanting to outright start another "Cold War". Russia could well be a big problem.
I recognized the latest questioner...Terry Shirley is a retired Navy CPO, I knew him in Pearl Harbor (I recognize the name). McCain gets a good "Navy shipmate" moment, remembering how Navy Chiefs taught him as a young officer.
I in one philosophical point disagree with both of them...we have spent too much time and resources defending Israel, a nation that clearly can take care of itself. We should concentrate on OUR security interests. While I agree that a nuclear-capable Iran is a very real threat, the issue of Israel isn't my concern...the security of the United States is. And I do agree that we need to engage even those nations that we view as adversaries.
Wow..."Zen" final question...good one. It is going to make both candidates show the real persons behind the suits, if they actually answer.
Obama fields it first...he speaks of the American dream and how we are losing it, and his closing remarks were very good. Very inspirational, very personal, non-attack.
McCain spoke of service and sacrifice, not as eloquent but very heartfelt. A hint of the John McCain of the Vietnam era, the hero, the sailor. I was equally impressed with his answer, it was sincere and inspirational and I'm glad he avoided attacks in this final question.
Technorati Tags: Politics, Debate, Obama, McCain
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